While at times it may feel that the Flyers are starting this potential rebuild with relatively few jewels in their back pocket, there are a few pieces we can point to with some optimism. Cam York might not be as shiny as Cutter Gauthier and Tyson Foerster and Bobby Brink, but that’s likely only because he’s already cracked the NHL roster and become closer to a known commodity.
But York is still 22 years old and only became a lineup regular at the end of last calendar year. He played nearly 20 minutes a game for over half the season, saw some power play time, and came out on the positive side of the puck in terms of shots, shot attempts, and goals all while moving back and forth between the right side and the left side and playing for a pretty offensively miserable hockey team. The Flyers largely succeeded while Cam York was on the ice in 2022-23.
York’s offensive scoring numbers–which was always supposed to be one of his strengths coming out of the USNTDP–aren’t leaping off the screen, with 2 goals and 18 assists in 54 games, but considering that’s closer to a 30-point pace over a full season, that it’s his first regular play at the world’s top level, and that he still can’t legally rent a car, there’s certainly room for optimism moving forward.
Three Questions
Did they live up to expectations?
York lived up to expectations this year for the most part. He probably should have been on the Flyers a lot earlier than he was–that’s no fault of his own. What’s more important here is that he hasn’t reached the expectations put on him in the macro. He’s expected to get better than he was this season, so this next year will be a lot more important. York’s timeline, of any current Flyer, should line up with a Briere-led rebuild. He’s 22 and is likely about to sign a bridge contract that will keep him under team control for a few more years.
What can we expect from next season?
What we can hope for is a nice big step forward. The two best-case scenarios here are that Cam York 1) plays well enough to prove that he can take over for Ivan Provorov should Provorov not be in Philadelphia anymore or that 2) he actually does take over for Ivan Provorov and plays just as well if not better than Provy’s best seasons in Philadelphia. If we’re being more realistic, it’s an incremental step forward, maybe 20+ minutes a night and pushing half a point per game.
How do we grade their 2022-23 season?
York didn’t play a full NHL season, but again, that was a decision beyond his control. He turned in a solid though unspectacular campaign and at least answered the question “can he be an NHL nightly regular” with a firm “yes.” He left the impression that he’s a good hockey player and that he can get better, which is what Flyers fans want out of the young roster players at this point–and he’s maybe the only one that can be said for.
B
